Disabled veterans can receive free licenses

State approves certain discounts for licences

LANSING – The Department of Natural Resources is reminding Michigan resident disabled veteran hunters and anglers that they can obtain free hunting and fishing licenses at their favorite retail agent or online at www.mdnr-elicense.com as of March 1.

House Bill 5292, signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder, allows a disabled veteran to obtain any resident hunting or fishing license for which a lottery is not required, free of charge. The veteran will be required to provide proof of eligibility at the time of purchase and carry this proof when using any license obtained under this legislation.

The law defines “disabled veteran” as a resident who either:

• has been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to be permanently and totally disabled as a result of military service and entitled to veterans’ benefits at the 100-percent rate, for a disability other than blindness; or

• is rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as individually unemployable.

Licenses will be available at the agents and online at the same time that the regularly priced items go on sale throughout the year. Some licenses become available for sale later in the year depending on the sporting season openers and leftover or over-the-counter quantities.

Legally blind anglers who are not disabled veterans can still receive their fishing licenses at the senior rates.